City comparison
Harrisburg, PA vs Richmond, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Harrisburg, PA (98.7) and Richmond, VA (97.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Harrisburg, PA goes as far as $99,200 in Richmond, VA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $1,212 in Harrisburg, PA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 19% in Harrisburg, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,866 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Harrisburg, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.4% moving from Harrisburg, PA to Richmond, VA ($108,592 → $111,183), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.2% in real buying power.
- Harrisburg, PA: price level 98.7 (about average)
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Harrisburg, PA | Richmond, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.7 | 97.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,197 in Richmond | $100,809 in Harrisburg |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,212/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,610 | $51,460 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | Richmond, VA |
Rent areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA and Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA and Richmond, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Harrisburg | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 96.3 | 99.1 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 108.1 | 89.2 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 98.7 | 97.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Harrisburg, PA → Richmond, VA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,866/yr.
71 Strong offer
Richmond, VA → Harrisburg, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,866/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Harrisburg, PA is in the Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA pay area; Richmond, VA is in Richmond, VA. The last column shows what a transfer from Harrisburg, PA to Richmond, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Harrisburg, PA | Richmond, VA | Real change, Harrisburg → Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,972 | $64,475 | +3.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,190 | $78,009 | +3.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,320 | $93,499 | +3.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,592 | $111,183 | +3.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,323 | $131,385 | +3.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Harrisburg, PA | Richmond, VA | Richmond pay in Harrisburg dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,160 | $61,290 | $61,786 (−19.9%) |
| Software Developers | $109,470 | $132,120 | $133,189 (+21.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,510 | $84,220 | $84,902 (+11.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,770 | $93,580 | $94,337 (−2.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.